Apparatus for the manufacture of threads or filaments



A. 0. RYAN Feb. 3, 1953 APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF THREADS ORFILAMENTS Filed May 10, 1947 141/701! 0/! I Fqah A TTOR Patented Feb. 3,1 953 APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF THREADS OR FILAMENTS Albert OlenRyan, Independence, Ky., assignor to Bedding Manufacturing Company,Inc., Norwalk, Conn, a corporation of Delaware Application May 10, 1947,Serial No. 7 47,239

6 Claims. 1

This invention relates to the apparatus for the manufacture of threadsor filaments and particularly to an improved apparatus for manufacturingthreads, tapes or other elongated articles from liquids which aresubject to hardening or solidifying by physical or chemical action.

My Patent No. 2,402,846, granted June 25, 1946, describes themanufacture of a single continuous thread, filament, tape or the like bydischarging thread-forming material in liquid form into the center of astream of hardening liquid flowing with viscous flow through a tube. Insuch an arrangement substantially all operating parts such as nozzles,fluid streams, etc. are enclosed and substantially inaccessible duringoperation, and a complete separate apparatus is required for themanufacture of each thread.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved apparatus iormaking threads, filaments, tapes or other elongated shapes in quantityby introducing a plurality of separate threads in a single stream ofhardening liquid.

A further object is to provide a finished product of substantially anyshape from a hardenable material which is introduced at a plurality ofpoints into a viscously flowing stream of hardening liquid.

A further object is to provide an apparatus for making threads or thelike from hardenable liquid material constructed and arranged to producesubstantially any desired number of threads or the like simultaneouslywith a single elongated sheet-like stream of hardening liquid.

A further object is to provide an apparatus of the type set forth havinga plurality of nozzles for controlling the flow of a plurality ofstreams of hardenable liquid which are accessible for control andadjustment during operation.

Other objects will appear from the following description of anillustrative embodiment of the bodiment of this invention and capable ofbeing used in carrying out the present method, and

Fig; 2 is a partial diagrammatic view in section on the line 2-2 of Fig.1.

As in my said patent, the present invention makes use of thecharacteristic of viscous flow of the hardening liquid. Viscous flow, orstreamline flow, as it is sometimes designated, is obtained by a properproportioning of the flow ve- .locity, the cross sectional area, and theviscosity of the hardening liquid. In the present invention thehardening liquid is caused to flow in the form of a substantially flatsheet through a narrow, elongated, fiat, confining space with viscousflow between parallel confining surfaces. Although for the purposes ofillustration I describe this spa-ce as vertical and the hardening fluidas flowing downwardly therethroughby gravity, it Will be apparent thatthe device is equally adapted to upward flow of the liquid through avertical confining space, or that such space may be horizontal or atsome angle to the horizontal, if desired. The hardenable material isintroduced in the form of a plurality of parallel liquid streams intothe center of the viscous flowing sheet of hardening liquid adjacent oneend thereof, and at the same rate of flow as the center of such sheet soas to be surrounded and supported by the stream of hardening materialand moved therewith through the confining space. The hardening operationmay be accomplished by physical or by chemical action, the hardeningliquid being selected or treated to accomplish the desired purpose. Forexample, if the hardening material is subject to hardening by thermalaction the material forming the supporting and hardening liquid streamis heated or cooled to the proper degree to effect hardening of thematerial while in contact therewith. If, on the other hand, the materialis adapted to be hardened by chemical action then the hardening liquidis properly selected to have the desired chemical hardening effect onthe material. The stream of hardening liquid is of sufiicient length forthe hardenable material to be suificiently hardened while in contacttherewith, after which the hardened filaments or threads or tapes orother elongated shapes are removed from the hardening liquid and may,for example, be passed through conditioning and Washing operations.

Although the invention will hereinafter be described in connection withthe hardening of latex for the purpose of forming latex threads orfilaments or other shapes, it will be apparent that it is equally welladapted to the hardening of other suitable materials.

For example, in the hardening of latex threads by heat, the presentinvention preferably employs glycerine heated to substantially 210 F. asthe hardening liquid. Such glycerine, or other hardening liquid, isdrawn from a reservoir or supply sump 5, where its temperature is raisedto the desired point by any suitable means such as a heating coil 6, bya circulating pump 1 which :forces the glycerine through aysupply line8;, and branch inlets 9 to separate supply manifolds or folds l and IIand extend to points above the level of the flaring mouth I? to forminlet chambers 23, 24 for directing hardeningfluid over the upper edgesof the flaring walls' l5, l6 into the mouth I? and thence downwardlythrough the space M. Screens 25, 26 are provided for insur-' ing an evendistribution of the hardening liquid flowing from the inlet manifoldsinto thechambers 23, 24.

Enclosing walls 2'1 28 pro vid drainage chambers 29, 3| forexcesshardening liquid which is returned through drain outlets 32, 33 to areturn pipe 34 leading to the sump 5.

As illustrated, viscous flow of 'the glycerine, or other hardening fluidis obtained by suitably proportioning the distance between the confiningplates l2 and i3 with relation to the viscosity of the liquid and itsvelocity of flow. In viscous flow that part of. the liquid which is incontact with the confining surface is substantially. stationary, thevelocity of flow of the material increasing up to a certain point withthe distance of the fluid from such surface. Hence in the case ofglycerine flowing through th space l4 between substantially flatparallel confining plates [2 and I3,1under conditions of viscous flow,theglycerine located midwaybetween the confining plates will flow atmaximum velocity and without'turbulence. As a result, a stream of liquidhardenable material, such as latex, introduced intothe glycerine streammidway between the confining plates [2, l3 and at the same velocityv as.the glycerine will be surrounded and supported and will move with theglycerine downwardly through the space J4.

The liquid hardenable material is, in the pres.- ent invention,introduced in a plurality of, thin, parallel streams into the center ofthe mouth I! at thesame velocity and in the same direction of flow asthat of the glycerine or other hardening fluid. For this purpose, a row'of spaced nozzles 4| are supported in brackets 42 above the mouthl'l andso located as to discharge the separate streams of thread-formingmaterial at the top of the mouth I! midway between the flaring walls and[6. 'As shown in Fig. 2, the number of threads or the like which can besimultaneously formedis dependent only upon the width f the apparatus,that is to say thewidth of the space [4 through which the hardeningfluid flows, and the necessity of spacing the different streams of thematerial s'uflicie ntly far apart to prevent any contact between theseparate streams during the hardening process. The'discharge velocity atthe nozzles can be accurately regulated by any suitable means such asvalves, 43, or inany other desired manner; H

The'speed of fiowthroughthe space I4 is such that the filaments orthreads or the like 44 are substantially hardened by. the time the lowerend of the space-l4 .isfrea'ched, permitting their removal to anysuitablefdrying andwashing appa; ratus .(not shown). As illustrated, a-conveycr belt 45 operating over a roller 46 is employed [or removingthe solidified threads.

As above indicated, when the thread-forming material is hardenable byheat the hardening liquid in the sump 5 is brought to the desiredtemperature by any suitable means such, for example, as the heating coil5 which may be located directly in the sump, a suitable heating mediumbeing circulated through the coil. In making threads from latex by thecombined action of heat and dehydration, the drying liquid can beglycerine which will normally be heated in the sump to approximately 210F. with the result that it has a temperature of approximately 200 F.when it reaches the mouth H where the thread-forming liquid latex isbrought into contact with it.

However, instead of using glycerine to harden the latex by the combinedaction of heat and dehydration, it may be hardened chemically bydischarging streams of alkaline stabilized latex into a stream ofaqueous hardening fluid having a low pH value. Such fluid might be asolution con taining bufier salts such as magnesium sulphate, zincammonia sulphate and thelike, or an acid solution such as acetic acid,formic acid, and the like. In all cases, however, the shape of thethread to be formed is maintained by the equilibrium of forces in thestreamline flow.

In operation, assuming that liquid is to be solidified by contact withheated glycerine, the glycerine in heated to approximately 210 F,- bythe heating coil in the reservoir or sump 5. The pump! forcestheglycerine upwardly throughthe pipe 8 and branch outlets 9 into thesupply manifolds l0 and H on opposite sides of the parallel plates l2and I3, thence upwardly through the dispersing screens 25,26 to fill theinlet chambers 23 and 24. The gylcerine flows into the mouth I! over theupper edges ,of the plates l2, l3 and downwardly through the space I4with viscous flow, as described. The latex is discharged through thenozzles 4 i in separateparallel streams and thedischarge velocityissocontrolledby regulating the valves. 43 or by any other means thatthe latex moves at the same speed asthe glycerine at the. center of thespacemidway between the plates l2 and I3 to besolidified as described.The hardened threadsv are .drawnoff to any suitabl cleaningand washingapparatus by the endless conveyor 45 and the glycerineis returned tothesump 5 for reheating and recirculation. The temperature of theglycerine at theentrance to themouthll usually approximates 200 F.

The materials from which the, apparatus is made will dependupon,thecharacteristics-of the hardenable material and or the hardeningfluid. It is contemplated, for example, that resins or plastics may bedischarged into a moving stream of hardening material and therecondensed, polymerized or chemically interacted as the case may be.Likewise, with suitable apparatus, molten metal may be discharged into astream of cooling material and carried therealong until it becomessuitably hardened for withdrawal. It will thus be apparent that inaccordance with the principles of this invention substantially. anysuitable hardenable material can be treated for hardening by physical orchemical action, provided it is supported within a suitable mediumflowing with viscousflow. A .temperature hard.- enable liquid may bedefined as any liquid which can bechanged to a substantially permanentlyhardened condition by thermal action. For best results in forming around thread it is desired that the interfacial tension be as high aspossible, but surface tension is not a controlling factor.

It should be understood that the term thread and its derivatives as usedherein is intended to cover products having various cross-sectionalconfigurations.

While I have, for the purposes of illustration, described anillustrative embodiment of the invention, it will be apparent that theinvention is not limited to the specific example given but may bevariously modified and adapted within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for simultaneously forming a plurality of continuousthreads comprising a plurality of spaced plates forming a relativelynarrow elongated substantially flat space, one end of said plates beingoutwardly flared, means for flowing a hardening liquid through saidspace at such a speed with relation to the dimensions of said space andthe viscosity of said liquid that the liquid flows between said plateswith viscous flow, a plurality of nozzles disposed at the flared portionof the plates and extending across one end of said space for discharginga plurality of continuous parallel liquid streams of threadformingmaterial into said space in the center of said sheet of viscouslyflowing liquid at substantially the same speed and in the same directionof flow as the center of said sheet, whereby said hardening liquidsupports and surrounds each of said streams of thread-forming materialduring passage through said space to cause said material to solidifywhile supported in said stream, means for heating said hardening liquid,means continuously recirculating said hardening liquid through saidspace, and means for withdrawing the solidified material from saidhardening liquid.

2. Apparatus for simultaneously forming a plurality of continuousthreads comprising spaced vertical plates forming a relatively narrowelongated substantially flat space, one end of said plates forming aflared section, means forming inlet chambers for directing hardeningfluid over the flared section of said plates into said space to flowthrough said space with viscous flow, supply manifolds located belowsaid inlet chambers and communicating therewith, a reservoir, means forcirculating hardening fluid from said reservoir through said supplymanifolds into said chambers and over the upper edges of said platesinto said space, means for discharging a plurality of continuousparallel liquid streams of threadforming material into said space in thecenter of said hardening liquid and flowing by gravity at substantiallythe same speed and in the same direction of flow as the center of saidhardening liquid, whereby said hardening liquid supports and surroundseach of said streams of threadforming material during passage throughsaid space to cause said material to solidify while supported therein,and means for withdrawing solidified material from said hardeningliquid.

3. Apparatus for simultaneously forming a plurality of continuousthreads comprising spaced vertical plates forming a relatively narrowelongated substantially flat space, means forming inlet chambers fordirecting hardening fluid over the upper edges of said plates into saidspace to flow through said space with viscous flow, supply manifoldslocated below said inlet chambers and communicating therewith, areservoir for the hardening fluid, means for circulat-' ing hardeningfluid from said reservoir through said supply manifolds into saidchambers and over the upper edges of said plates into said space, adrain for returning excess hardening liquid to said reservoir, means fordischarging a plurality of continuous parallel liquid streams ofthread-forming material into said space in the center of said hardeningliquid at substantially the same speed and in the same directionof flowasthe center of said hardening liquid, whereby said hardening liquidsupports and surrounds each of said streams of thread-forming materialduring passage through said space to cause said material to solidifywhile supported therein and moving by gravity, and means for withdrawinsolidified material from said hardening liquid.

4. Apparatus for simultaneously and continuously forming a plurality ofhardenable filaments, comprising a casing having walls relatively closetogether to form a flat, elongated, wide space, the upper portion ofsaid walls being outwardly flared, an enclosure for the flared portionof said casing for holding a supply of hardening liquid therein andfeeding the liquid into the top of the casing, said hardening liquidflowing into the casing, forming a continuous liquid sheet moving withviscous flow, a reservoir for the hardening liquid and supplying thesame to the casing, overflow catching means surrounding the casingadapted to return the hardening liquid to the reservoir, a plurality ofparallel nozzles positioned above the flared portion of the casing forintroducing a plurality of continuous liquid streams of hardenablematerial into the flared portion of the casing, and into the hardeningliquid whereby said hardening liquid supports and surrounds saidhardenable liquid during the passage thereof through said space to causethe hardenable material during the passage thereof through said space toharden, means for recycling the hardening liquid from the reservoir intothe bottom of the enclosure, and means for withdrawing the solidifiedmaterial from the hardening liquid.

5. Apparatus for the production of continuous threads comprising, spacedvertical plates forming a relatively narrow elongated substantially flatspace, means for flowing a hardening liquid through said space, thethickness of the liquid sheet and the viscosity and speed of flowthereof being such as to produce viscous flow of said liquid within saidspace, means for delivering a filament of thread forming hardenablliquid into said space at its longitudinal center at a speedsubstantially equal to the speed of said hardening fluid at itslongitudinal center, said hardening liquid being chemically reactivewith the thread forming material whereby said thread forming liquid ishardened as it moves in contact with said hardening liquid, means forwithdrawing the hardened thread from said hardening liquid, and meansfor recycling at least a portion of said hardening liquid.

6. Apparatus for the production of continuous threads comprising, spacedvertical plates forming a relatively narrow elongated substantially flatspace, means for flowing a hardening liquid through said space, thethickness of the liquid sheet and the viscosity and speed of flowthereof being such as to produce viscous flow of said liquid within saidspace, means for delivering a filament of thread forming hardenableliquid into said space at its longitudinal center at a speedsubstantially equal to the speed of said REFERENCES. ,GITED Thefollowing references are-o1- record in the' fileof this-patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 'Ihiele; Dec.- 18. 1906 Madge.Oct:.- 30,1934 Ryan June 25; 1946

